The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-18
Terrible Accusation Lodged Against
a Man Named Mendenhall.
A Fortunate Escape by Local Insurance
Companies on Account Of an OBJ
iectionable Clause in Cotton Pol
icies-Gallant Firemen- Ex-
citing Scenes.

F1cht hundred thousand dollars ut one
fell swoopl Surely the demon Of fire has
some Unsuitable grudge against Memphis,
and will not cease his efforts at destruction
until all the more valuable properties are
laid in ashes Over four acres or moro Of
ground did il spread, and yet seemed bent
upon taking in more!
At $50 o'clock last night all Memphis
wn startled and Mortified by the ccasclcss
blowing OF steam whistles, Changing OF fire
and other bells, and perfect pandemo-
MUM Of hurrying, skurrying humanity.
Where they were going at lirst no one
could tell. The entire heavens above the
city wore lurid tinge, which rendered
the location Of the fend's frightful work
almost impossible. That il was something
awful every soul knew by intuition, and
scampcred hiiher and thither with dismay
pictured on every feature. At last the
whole northwestern part Of the cityscemed
ablazc, and in that direction the crowds
surgcd.
"iT is THE NAVY YARD"
Soon spread from one TO another, as rapidly
Ms did the flames which licked the highly
combus,iblc material and sentup the lurid
flare. So Il proved TO be. Within less
than twenty minutes after the alarm was
sounded the entire institution between the
railroad tracks and the river was q sccth.
Ing. cracking ;umb!ing mass, beyond al
hope ~ salvation. All the available forces
Tor fighting the fire were arranged 10 that
la4
.lercd. but had they been OF three times
tho strength their efforts would have been
futile.
Owing 10 the intense heat and somewhat
. inaccessible position OF the flames, the work
) Of the fircmen was somewhat retarded. 4
perfect network Of railroad tracks pcnc-
rates the navy yard property from end Ia
. end. and forms division line between
+ Congresses and 5 and No. |. To cross
these was impossible, on account Of the
heat, and would also have isolated the en-
zines from replugs sufficient toaccOmmO.
date them. On the east side Of the prop.
erty, from end 10 end, was
A mGu BRICK WALL,
rendering service from that direction Mt.
terly impmciicahlc. One OF the fire en-.
zines was. therefore, stationed az the cor.
n,r Of Front and Winchester, several
hundred yards distant. another approached
nearer, and took mp It's position at ih,
south end ol the yard, while the other
worked from along Promenade street,
These positions required an unusual
amount 81 hose, 80 much, in fact that III,
whole supply carried by the compcs.
company was brought into play. In al
Jiti6n to the regular force II fircmcn, vol
Lao lao -.
companv, 80 that Tor time fully 100 nCt
were engaged In combating the flames
Thus did the work proceed, yet withal 4
only succeeded in staying the iicnd's raw
nrrs beyond the railroad tracks eastward
Tho fire was first discovered In comprcs
No. /. east Of the railroad tracks Ih'
alarm was giyen by Walter Mendenhall,
Young white man, and was caused by
burning bale Of cotton in the center o
numulsus bales near the boilcr-ro0m an,
co,nprrss. This was NJ 600 o'clock. Th'
company's frc.cxtinguishing appamlu
was brought into play, and for q half hou
or more fought the Intruder
SINGLE HASyD AND NoNE.
nv lis use the fire was finally sub
ducd. and all hands settled down 10 put
ting cotton in shape Tor shipment. j
this shed the stock Of cotton belonged :
factors. the lan,cr portion Of II being ~
pppcrty Of llill, fontaine & Co, III
amount being In the noighborhood .
AO.UO bales, most Of which WIS alrcad
comprcpcd. Hardly had the worlmc
resumed their ordinary duties, when Men
dcnhall came rushing in, bIcaihlcss Wit
excitement, and exclaimed; "flrc ln
broken out in the cotton IN No. Az ~
eiantly COMPRISING operations were agai
ceased, and the entire force, thorough
equipped, turned their attention 10 Ga
new danger
The new alarm came from n quartz
absolutely remote from the first fire, No.
being across the railroad tracks and ~ "
northwest corner OF the yard nearest VI
river. Streams were poured upon II irol
every direction, but seemingly 10 no pm
pnse. Being wedgcd In between hundrc'
OF other bales. Il was impossible TO ext
cate the few burning bales and romo'
them, and ~ a result the
rmGurruL coNFLAoHArioN ENsrrD.
The sheds above the. burning cote
verc Of frame, and soon bccamc ignite
irom the flames beneath. Fresh pai
aided 10 the palatablc food, and alinQ
In the twinklng Of an eye Tie cnii
.',,,rtnre Vas a mass Of flames, sending I
nnry tongues fifty feet In the mir. III
lrcucn fought them from close qnarle
until driven back by the fierce heat, VIZ
they took refuge behind feieht cans